They sat on the runway for two hours before being allowed to head to Newark. Landing just a couple of hours before showtime, he cleared customs and arrived at the Lighthouse Theater in Manhattan just minutes before the screening was set to begin.

Bardem and his director Alejandro González Iñárritu held court at the postscreening dinner at the Carlyle Hotel hosted by Miuccia Prada, Ingird Sischy and Sandy Brant.

Fingers crossed Bardem has an easier time getting to L.A. this weekend. The SAG Film Society will host a special screening on Sunday followed by a Sean Penn-moderated conversation with Bardem and Iñárritu.